26 — Sunday, June 14, 1998 - North Shore News LOOKS like we hit upon a hot topic in the fast article tiled Much Ado about Mulch and Groundcover. Either that or I didn’t cover as much ground as [ had intended. Lets see if we can cover a few more bases this Phone: Duncan Morgan at 926-5372 ANOUK KERB KERS” * Kwik & Economical * Many creative Styles for - Heme + Car Parks - Commercial Building + (ndustrial Areas ° Continvous,t Decorative Concrete Landscaping Edging * Many Colours Available «Various Profiles to choose from * Attractive Garden Surrounds * Mower Strips * «Driveway Edges GUARANTEED WORKMANSHIP-NATIONWIDE WEST YORK CONSTRUCTION LTD “B.C. Homebuilders Association Georgie Winner” Experience what WEST YORK has to offer in new and - decorative ways of rejuvenating and changing the appearance of your home or business. We are “Professional Renovators” We carry liability and WCB insurance We have excellent references We offer free quotations cit 684-2721 PS. Ask for our free copy of “How to pick a renovator” 93 4 RUNNER All options. S PATHFINDER SE 4X4 V6, auto, toaded with all power north shore news sy F[OME & GARDEN week. Margaret M. writes: “I'm with you on the bark mulch business. So, what is the piant in the pheto, f need ground cover, You write a great col- umn, thanks,” And amy thanks to vou too Margaret; its very nice to ed. ant in the phote was St. John’ 's Wort (Fyperii . (Hedera lelix) and innick (Arctostaplytlus uva-ursi), itis one of the most useful groundcovers cultivated in our area — and among the most common, For this reason, these three are not always at the top of my list of favorites. This subject seems also to have struck a chord with Norman S. who writes: “What filler or groundcover would you recommend for a bed containing miniature azaleas and rhododendrons? [ believe that this class of shrub has very shallow roots, and the fillers should not compete with their surface roats.” Heather (Erica sp. and Calluna sp.) is always a good candidate; especially when used amongst dwarf azaleas and rhododendrons. Both specics are from the rhododen- dron family and therefore very compatible. Here F would like to offer a word of warning; the summer flowering heathers (Calfuna sp.) can become weedy if not properly maintained or planted in appropriate environment. They require more sun than NEWS photo Terzy Peters HEATHER is an alternative groundcover to the more common St. John's wert, English ivy and kinnickin- nick. their winter flowering cousins ( Erica sp.) and really should be pruned and watered more often. As the subject is large I will spend this week looking at the cricas. Some good varieties of winter blcoming heather include the Erica carneas which can be scen in bloom from as carly as December to as late as June. Some good forms to look for are: King George: deep pink, 10” in height; Springwood Pink: pure pink, 8” height; Springwood White: 8” and white; and Vivelli: 2 LO” mound of carmine red Other winter-spring flower- ing ericas to look for include those of the ¢. darlyensis family. Darly Dale is a cough, bushy, 12” plant with light, rosy pur- ple flowers. Furzy is a robust 18” rose pink and George Rendall is a bushy 12” with purple flowers and gold tinted new growth. Silberschmelze is arguably the finest white win- ter bloomer, growing vigor- ously to more than 18” and sporting fragrant flowers. The last group of erieas I will mention is ¢. tetralix. Unlike its close relatives, it generally flowers in summer, usually June through October. It is a little more temperamen- tal in its water requirements and could use a trimming now and again, but it is weil worth the small amount of mainte- nance required. With soft, gray upright foliage and white through pink flowers, these plants are a rare but attractive addition to the 4dr, automatic, Cruise-tilt, _ able amount pve standard groundcover fair. Look for varieties such as Alba Mollis for white and Darlvensis in pink. In gencral, heathers prefer good drainage with a reason- . f organic materi- alin the soii to retain moisture” during the dry spells. As with rhododendrons and azaleas, slightly acidic soils: are best. Although feeding is not really necessary, a little generic rhodo food at the beginning and middle of the growing season won’ hurt. I should add some © thoughts on the fast part of - Norman’s question: “During the past few years horse-tail weeds have begua to, infest some of my flower beds and lawn. Can you suggest any method to eliminate this “pest.” Solutions of MCPA area chemical answer to this n : pest, but be very careful. This is a strong herbicide and can ‘ sometimes catise more damage than the problem is worth.‘ Also Casaron can be helpful in beds containing only shrubs with woody trunks or stems. If-- applied early in the spring, it ' can burn the horsetail out as it’ tries to emerge throughout the season, in time eliminating it entirely. . i hope I have been of some. 7 assistance. 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